Posts Tagged ‘Haro Strait’
Saturday, August 11th, 2012
Busy Saturday on the water today, but the whales didn’t seem to mind!!! Members of Jpod had spread out almost half the length of San Juan traveling south in Haro Strait between Lime Kiln and False Bay (48°32.15N, 123°00.87W). The first whale we encountered was Doublestuff (J34) rolling around and traveling amongst a few females enjoying the sunshine and family time.
The next group we came across was Hy’Shqa (J37) and her VERY new born calf J49 with Grandma Samish (J14) monitoring close behind. What a blessing to see the little one so healthy and keeping up right alongside mama!!!
Then we ran into Onyx (L87) foraging by his lonesome and out of nowhere popped up Blackberry (J27) right off our stern. I swear he has a “thing” for the Kittiwake because he always pays us a visit on that boat!
The last family we encountered were the J16s; Mama Slick (J16) leading her offspring and Big Mike (J26).
What an amazing day for whale watching! And the night cruise is yet to come…
Naturalist Tara, San Juan Safaris
Tags: False Bay, Haro Strait, Jpod, lime kiln, san juan island, Southern Resident Killer Whales
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Monday, August 6th, 2012
Exciting day on the water! Leaving the harbor under rainy skies, we traveled north around San Juan Island. Happily, the skies dried and the sun soon came out just as we caught up with members of the Southern Resident Killer Whales in Haro Strait. Traveling along the west side of Stuart Island and milling in the Turn Point area (first sighted at 48°40.67N 123°14.92W) were: Onyx (L87), along with Slick (J-16) and her calf, Echo (J-42), Mike (J-26) and Alki (J-36). Our next sighting include Granny (J-2) along with Tsuchi (J-31), and Mako (J-39). The orcas were active and didn’t seem to be in any hurry to leave the area. Plenty of shots of tails waving, pectoral fin slaps and the occasional spy hop. On the way back, we heard a rumor that there might be a new calf in J Pod?
Shelly and Tara, Naturalists for San Juan Safaris
Tags: Bald Eagle, Bald Eagles, Cactus Islands, friday harbor, Harbor Seal, Harbor Seals, Haro Strait, j pod, killer whales, L pod, Orca whale, orca whales, Orcas, San Juan Channel, san juan island, San Juan Safaris, Southern Resident Killer Whales, whale watching near seattle
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Tuesday, July 10th, 2012
Great whale watching out in Haro Strait today! Whales were spread out between Stewart Island and Lime Kiln State Park. We caught up with our first pair, mama and calf, just off Henry Island, near Kellet Bluff (48°34.60N, 123°12.03W). They were moving extremely fast, almost to be confused with porpoise, looking as if they were trying to catch up with the rest of the pack on the western side of San Juan.
After traveling with them for a bit, another female appeared out of nowhere. Captain cut the engine and we just sat there in complete silence, listening to their majestic blows, taken back by their serenity.
Once they passed, we moved on and caught up with a larger male, Onyx (L87) and man did he put on a show! He started off swimming on his side, pectoral fin raised high in the air, and then did a full body cartwheel, leading into his grand finale a double breach!
Another amazing day.
Naturalist Tara, San Juan Safaris
Tags: Haro Strait, henry island, Kellet Bluff, Lime Kiln State Park, orca whales, san juan island, Stewart Island
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Sunday, July 8th, 2012
AND SO ARE THE WHALES!
The salmon must be satisfying, because we have been seeing our Southern Residents for weeks now, on both trips! Today around 3:00 PM we met up with at least 10 members of J and L pod just south of Mosquito Pass, traveling north in Haro Strait (48°35.66N, 123°12.61). They too, seemed to be enjoying the sun, surfacing multiple times and playing around in the water. They were definitely not shy, and we were able to identify, in plain sight, Spieden (J8), Slick (J16), Onyx (L87), and Racer (L72).
Moving at a steady pace, it appeared as if they had no reservations. Every now and then we would see a member stop for a snack, arching its back in preparation for a deep dive, and raising its fluke (tail) out of the water to gain that extra push needed for the way down (typical foraging behavior). To our surprise, we even got to see one adult female breach fully out of the water, two times in a row. Usually we only see this with calves but maybe, just maybe, this mama was showing the young’uns how it’s really done… heck, we are all kids at heart!
Another beautiful day out on the water!
Naturalist Tara, San Juan Safaris
Tags: breach, Haro Strait, Mosquito Pass, orca whales, Southern Resident Killer Whales
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Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012
Today we hung out with 7 members of J-pod in Haro Strait between Henry and Stewart Island (48°38.88N 123°12.07W). What can I say, they had us at hello—from the minute we arrived they seemed excited, yet kind, greeting us with a spy hop and adult breach. It was almost as if they were welcoming us into their home and from that point on a connection evolved.
After a few minutes of riding alongside them, they merged into a single family unit, moving as one. The love, the passion, and the history amongst them seemed so real, and so strong, it was almost tangible. We were able to identify the presence of Blackberry (J27) and his sister Tsuchi (J31) along with Oreo (J22) and her son Doublestuff (J34).
But like any good neighbor, we weren’t looking to overstay our welcome so we just stopped in, said hi, and let them continue on–as I’m sure they had other errands to run.
Naturalist Tara, San Juan Safaris
Tags: Haro Strait, henry island, j pod, orca whales, Southern Resident Killer Whales, Stewart Island
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Thursday, June 28th, 2012
Today was another great day amongst our Southern Residents! We found members of J and K pods spread out in the strait, in groups of 3 or less, between Salmon Bank and False Bay (Haro Strait 48°27.07N, 123°04.02W). Some were foraging, some were resting, while others just appeared to be milling around in the calm seas.
After riding alongside one group, we would switch off to another, paying each small group a visit. We even saw a few adult breaches, which ironically occurred just after the rarity of such behavior was explained, giving everyone a little chuckle! Once everyone got some good looks and great shots, we huddled around an orca survey and successfully identified Shachi (J19), Racer (L72), and Onyx (L87). Case closed.
On our way back we were fortunate enough to witness a Minke Whale on the hunt, just south of Salmon Bank. The large whale took multiple lunges at a bait ball causing birds to go flying and guests to break out in laughter.
Couldn’t ask for much more than these amazing views, fun investigations, and shared moments of laughter!
Naturalist Tara and Shelly, San Juan Safaris
Tags: breach, False Bay, Haro Strait, minke whale, Salmon Bank, san juan island, Southern Resident Killer Whales
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Monday, June 18th, 2012
Everywhere we looked around!!!!
J’s and L’s were enjoying themselves today, intermingling just off the west side of San Juan Island, Haro Strait (48°32.60N, 123°10.58). There were approximately three different groups spread out and one of the groups had two large males intimately chasing after a set of females. We decided to give them a little privacy and let nature takes its course, so we went on to catch up with “Moonlight” (L83) and her son “Midnight” (L110).
The two were cruising pretty fast, porpoising out of the water to keep their speed, allowing us to see the full extent of their black and white bodies. They changed direction on us a few times giving us a little play, both on the starboard side and off the stern.
Son was stickin’ close to mama, demonstrating the true matriline connection that forms amongst the southern residents. Gotta love them mama’s boys! We left them headed north at approximately 3:15PM.
Whether it was family love, or a little more-than-friendly love, it was all around today and man could you feel it!
Naturalist Tara, San Juan Safaris
Tags: Haro Strait, j pod, L pod, porpoising, san juan island, Southern Resident Killer Whales
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Monday, June 11th, 2012
It was another beautiful day on the water. The sun was out in full shine, the water pure glass. Out in Haro Strait at the very northeastern tip of D’Arcy Island we found two Transient Orcas (48°35.77N, 123°15.61W). We identified them as male T20 and female T21. Fortunately we were able to watch them hunt for a while.
We then continued our way around Mandarte Island, through the Cactus Islands, and back home. We saw all kinds of wildlife including Cormorants, gulls, Pigeon Guillemots, Harbor Seals, Harbor Porpoise, Bald Eagles, Fallow Deer, and Mouflon Sheep. Couldn’t ask for much more on a day like this!
Naturalist Tara, San Juan Safaris
Tags: Bald Eagles, Cactus Islands, cormorants, D'Arcy Island, Harbor Porpoise, Harbor Seals, Haro Strait, Mandarte Island, Mouflon Sheep, pigeon guillemot, Transient Orcas
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Sunday, June 10th, 2012
Today we headed out in full force with both boats, the Sea Lion and Kittiwake. We heard a few rumors of Big Black Fish milling around Lime Kiln so we headed in that direction. As we passed South Beach we saw our first group of dorsal fins break the water surface ( Haro Strait, 48°26.27N 123°01.48W).
Big “Mike” (J26) somehow made his way into a group of female K’s including “Raggedy” (K40) and seemed to be looking for a hot a date! He was definitely showing off what he’s got, wrestling around, and strutting his stuff. We figured we’d let him continue his pursuit and head west into open water to catch up with Cappuccino (K21).
We rode alongside Cappuccino (K21) for a bit. He was just chillaxin’ by his lonesome, milling around, doing his own thing. His pace was great for us though! We were able to cut the motor, watch him slowly emerge from the water, releasing large, exuding blows, and glide back slowly into the water. His actions were so smooth it caused passengers to grow silent, awestruck by the size and serenity of this amazing creature, living and breathing beside them.
There were also a number of other groups both from J-pod and K-pod spread out in the surrounding area fishing and what not. The Kittiwake got to ride with both Blackberry (J27) and Polaris (J28). We ended up leaving the whales still milling around in the same area at approximately 3:30 PM.
All in all, it was another unbelievable day amongst our Southern Residents!
Naturalists Tara and Shelly, San Juan Safaris
Tags: Haro Strait, j pod, K Pod, lime kiln, Milling, san juan island, South Beach, Southern Resident Killer Whales
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Saturday, June 9th, 2012
Today we caught up with 3 members of L-pod, a female and her offspring, on the west side of San Juan Island (Haro Strait 48°33’56.84N, 123°10’50.29W). They were headed south right against the shore line, moving at a very quick rate.
Within a few minutes of arriving we discovered that the female was L-55 also known as “Nugget” and one of the calves was L-118! We were very excited to see L-118 return home with mama because this calf was just born last year (2011) and can now be given a proper name.
It is days like these that really allow us to appreciate our Southern Resident Killer Whales, because although endangered, and battling many threats to their food and environment, mama still returns home with her calves showing us the true strength of the species.
We left the group at approximately 3:03 PM still making their way south, to catch up with the rest of the pod.
Naturalist Tara, San Juan Safaris
Tags: Endangered, Haro Strait, L pod, san juan island, Southern Resident Killer Whales
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